Kurt Wild on wed 1 nov 00
After all the Clayart help on digital cameras and just as I was close to
making a purchase, I received an Intel newsletter. In it the "Intel Pocket
PC Camera" was pictured and described. You can find out more about it at
this web site: http://www.intel.com/pccamera/pocket.htm
Some may scoff at what I have to say and/or the merits of the camera I am
about to write about; however, readers should keep in mind that I am happy
with this camera for my purposes! That is, to get photos of pots quickly
in order to post them on my web site or send via email. I was not
interested in using the camera for other photos (family shots, vacation,
trips, etc.) although I did take a couple shots of that sort to see how
they would work out.
First of all, the price was right so I rushed over to Best Buy to see
it. I bought it for $149.99 plus Minnesota sales tax of $9.75 for a total
of $159.74. I don't know what the price would be over the internet since I
did not check - just a case of wanting it now!
Following is some of the information about the camera and my experience
with my first batch of photos. Photos can be taken at 640x480 pixels or
320x240. I chose the 640x480. The actual size of the photo then is
8.889"wide x 6.667" in height at 86KB. After downloading to the computer I
reduced the size (see later in this email). The camera can take up to 128
snapshots at that resolution. The camera uses four AAA batteries and the
instructions say that "batteries should last through thousands of
images". For my first go around with the camera a took 36 shots. The view
finder is super small and it may make take some experimenting to get
objects positioned within it satisfactorily or cropping may be needed after
down loading. There is an adjustable focus when the camera is hooked up to
the computer but when used as a pocket camera away from the computer it has
a fixed focus. I have described the camera to friends as a kind of digital
version of the old box camera. Download is a breeze. There is a cable
which I leave plugged in to the USB port. When I want to download I simply
plug the free end into the camera. Click all or select only those shots I
want on the download and away it goes. Each shot downloads onto the
computer in the time it takes to say "one on thousand" etc.
Once the photos are down loaded they can be adjusted for Brightness &
Contrast; the image may be Rotated and the image may be Cropped. I found
the viewfinder was super small (as mentioned above) but I did mange. I
know it will take a few more times before I can properly locate the image
within it. I was able to capture what I wanted but it was necessary to do
some cropping after downloading. I found that to be quite easy. Adjusting
of Hue, Intensity or Saturation must be done in other programs. Adobe Photo
Shop LE is what I have. I adjusted the color in only one photo in order to
reduced the blueness and increase the greenness a bit. (See #817090G in
the "Current Work" section of my web site.)
The indoor photos come out very brownish due to the incandescent
lighting. The camera does not have a flash. Outdoor photos on a hazy
foggy day tend toward bluish-grayness. Nice photos outdoors on sunny days.
The photos of my pots, the main reason for my purchase of the camera, were
taken with blue photofloods. I wanted a camera that I could quickly get
just a few photos of to post on my web site in a hurry or email to
friends. When I have reduced the photos to a height of 3", with widths
varied depending on the shot, the range in file size is from 12 to 17KB. I
find the images clear enough for my purposes. One should keep in mind
though, that I only view with one eye so I might be more easily satisfied
than some people. On the other hand, I've been told that the photos sent
by email look "great" - and that comes from my medical illustrator daughter
who does much of her work on a computer (Mac). When the images are printed
they are (I will admit) very slightly fuzzy but not enough to bother me.
You can view shots taken with the Intel Pocket PC Camera on my web site at:
http://wwwpp.uwrf.edu/~kw77/
Once you are there click on the "Stoneware" button. Next scroll down to
the end of that section and click on the "Current work" button. Once it
downloads you'll see photos of current pots, decorated incidentally, as
"one eyed Jack". For outdoor snapshots go to the "Odds & Ends" section of
my web site and scroll down to the very end of that section..
If you would like more specific information and can't find it in the Intel
web site I have listed above, or in what I covered above, feel free to
contact me. I would prefer you do so by a phone. I simply prefer that to
giving long explanations by email. I hate typing! I like the older
technology the phone. My number is (715) 425-5715. Call anytime between
8:30 AM & 9:00 PM is fine. Or leave a message and I'll return your call.
Kurt
email: KURT.L.WILD@uwrf.edu
website: http://wwwpp.uwrf.edu/~kw77
| |
|
